Means for diffusing and coloring rays of light



pd] 1927. A a. M. BIR

I MEANS FOR DIFFU SING AND COLORING RAYS OF LI HT Filed Sept. 1,1922

gwwmtoz Patented Apr. 19, 1927. I

UNITED-STATES HERMAN 1a. BIB, or LIMA, onto.

MEANS FOR DIFFUSIN'G AND COLORING RAYS OF LIGHT.

Application filed September 1, 1922. Serial No. 585,720.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for coloring and diffusing rays of light, the primary object of the invention being to provide an unbreakable body adapted to be positioned to intersect rays of light for dii'l'using or coloring the same thereby providing means whereby strong and durable illuminated signs may be manufactured as well as hoods for incandescent electric light bulbs when it is desired to cast difierent coloredrays from the bulb.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of a body of the above character which is flexible so as to be capable of being formed into various shaped objects such as the hoods used on electric light bulbs for changing the color thereof; the flexibility of the body without detrimental efiects thereto also adding an advantage-to the device in that it is unbreakable, and thereby well adapted for use in connection with illuminated signs and the like.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby an illuminated sign can be formed from a single sheet of material, thereby. obviating the necessity of cutting out letters and placing transparent or translucent material back of the cut out. letters so as to permit rays of light through the letters as is customary at the present time.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the description and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a flat piece of the material used in carrying the invention into practice.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a piece of material provided with a letter in accordance with my invention.

Figure 3'is a vertical section through the same, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a hood for-incandescent electric light bulbs constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration areshown various embodiments of the invention, and which shows only a few applications of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a flat sheet of material, preferably very thin metal, but not necessarily so, as the invention may be provided of other material such as fiber, insulating material, or any other kind of material which is thick enough to stand up alone. This piece of material is provided throughout with a plurality of holes or apertures 6 which may be arranged in rows or any other manner so that they are arranged in close proximity to one another to form the sheet of material into a foraminous body. Instead of forming-a foraminous body in the manner herein devised it may be simply made up of a piece of wire mesh or any other kind of reticulated material.

In accordance with the invention, this foraminous material is coated on one or both sides with enamel, paint, porcelain, glass or vitriiiable colors or the like and the holes or perforations are either left open or they maybe closed with a transparent or translucent medium such as glass, varnish, oil which will harden or other mediums, just so light may pass through the openings or apertures. The material thus provided can then be cut to form various letters, or the material before being coated and the apertures therein filled, can be first cut into the shape of the desired letters for the formation of a sign and then finished in the same manner as hereinbefore described. The letters can then be assem? bled in front of a source of light to provide the desired advertising sign, and when the light is strong enough the rays of light passing through the openings or apertures 6 and the material filling the same are caused to diituse, thereby rendering the letters quite visible.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a different way of providing a sign under the present invention. In thisinstance, an imperforate sheet of material 7 large enough to contain the sign is obtained, and the letters or data to appear thereon are outlined and within material 5 hereinbefore described, and the apertures or holes 8 are filled in the same manner as the holes 6 and with the same kind of material so that rays of light will pass through the letters to causethe same to be illuminated and clearly visible.

If desired, the letters or data may he embossed in the material, and the embossed portion 5) as shown in Fig. 3 is provided with holes or apertures 10 which are tilled with the transparent or transluscent material in the same manner as the preceding forms (it invention.

in Fig. l l have disrlosed another appli ration of the invention and which is used for musing); eleetrie llglliifi to shed dil'lerent rolored ligl'hts. or to remove the glare there from. This hood 'll tor eleetrie lights is made nap-shaped and is provided with aper lures or holes which are lilled with tl'llllH- parent or translneent material as in the preeeding niodilieations. The ochre ot the eupshaped hood it is provided with a head 12 from which extend tahs or tongues 13 which are adapted to slip over the largest end of the eleetrie light hnlh and (:lar-ap against the sides thereo'l to retain the hood on the la rgyer end of the hull). 'lhew tongues; 13 are preterahly resilient and extend parallel with the sides of the hood 11 as shown so as to conforrn to the configuration of the ordinary electric light bulb.

This hood is then eoated with enamel. paint porcelain, glass or ritrifiahle colors et cetera. The perforations or apertures may he left open or they may he closed he the coating placed on the material, or with a transparent or translucent medium such as glass, varnish, oil and the like.

The foregoing description and aoeonipanying drawings have reference to What might he eonsir'lered' the approved or pretlerred torin ol? my invention. I desire it to he uiulerstood that l may inalre Such rhangee in the (-onstruetion, combination and arrangement of materials, dimensions. et retera, as may prove expedient and tall within the scope ol? the appended elaiin.

Having: thus iully described my invention what I eiaiin isz A sign comprising terial adapted to he a llexilile sheet ol inaplaced in trout of a light, portions ot said material being pitwed out to term eonvexed bulged portione assuming; the form of letters or synaholsx said ennrex'ed portions being provided throughout with a plurality of apertures arranged. in ('loee proxin'iit v to one another, the l'iiilltlltll nninei'liai'ely adjacent the out line of said letters heing iinperforate to strengthen the aportnred portion oi? the material. and material filling said apertures for dii'lusing' the rays of light passing therethrough.

ln testimony whereof I allix my signature.

HERMAN M. BIB. 

